In Sermon Illustrations: "Boast In The Lord"

Strength To Forgive

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

Some of life's hurts are so deep and painful that to forgive the people who caused them seems impossible. Yet Jesus says that we can't experience His forgiveness if we have an unforgiving spirit. In World War II, Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsie were arrested for concealing Jews and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Lord's Prayer, God's Strength, Forgiving Others, Corrie Ten Boom, Enemies  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Word Pictures Of Biblical Forgiveness

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

The importance of forgiveness is a constant theme of Scripture. There are no less than seventy-five different word pictures about forgiveness in the Bible. They help us grasp the importance, the nature, and the effects of forgiveness. • To Forgive Is to Turn The Key, Open the cell door, and let ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Philemon, Lord's Prayer, Root Of Bitterness, Forgive Us Our Debts, Unforgivenes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Only Jesus Can Give This Kind Of Forgiveness!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

Bruce Goodrich was being initiated into the cadet corps at Texas A & M University. One night, Bruce was forced to run until he dropped -- but he never got up. Bruce Goodrich died before he even entered college. A short time after the tragedy, Bruce's father wrote this letter to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Eternity, Parents, Cross, Prayer, Lord's Prayer, Forgiving Others, Enemies, Fathers, Forgivness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Family Resemblance

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 23, 2025

Family Resemblance *There will always be resemblance in families, and I'm not just talking about our physical appearance. I'm talking about the way we talk, our mannerisms, our quirks, our habits, and our attitudes. Well, what's true about our earthly families is also true about ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 144:1-15

Tags: Traitors, Deceivers, The Lord Of Hosts, Floods, High Tower, Righteous War, God's Help, Deliverer, King David, Brevity, Praise The Lord, Mortality, Shield, Salvation, Joy, Rock, Fortress  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Cross Made The Difference

Contributed by David Simpson on Apr 20, 2020

I (David Simpson) grew up as part of the spiritual family of Hardwick Christian Church. Along with my parents and sisters, I learned about Jesus and Bible there. I don’t ever remember a Sunday throughout my childhood and into my teen years when I was not in that church building and doing life with ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:5, John 3:16

Tags: Good Friday, Cross, Lord's Supper, Blood Of Jesus, Cross Of Jesus, Sacrifice Of Jesus, Communion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

How Much Does The Bible Talk About The Second Coming?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ's first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: End Times, Prophecy, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture, Day Of The Lord, Return Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[146]. A Message From A Poem – In Union With Christ

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 29, 2025

[146]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IN UNION WITH CHRIST It is a great joy and a mark of praise that we are in Christ. Do Christians use that phrase “in Christ” and not think into the depth of it? In union with Christ examines that subject, and it is too great to write well on it in a poem with ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6, Ephesians 4:1-3, Philippians 2:2, Romans 6:5

Tags: Forever, Love One Another, Risen Lord, Union With Chris, Grace, Savior, Unity, Bond  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great Background On Psalm 37 - Having God's Peace In Horrible Times

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 27, 2025

Background on Psalm 37 - How to Have God's Peace in Horrible Times Anyone who has read a good portion of God's Word knows that there are a lot of prayers provided for us in the Bible. The Dake Annotated Reference Bible lists 222 different prayers in the Bible: 176 prayers in the Old ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-11

Tags: Receive God's Righteousness, Cast Your Cares On The Lord, God's Righteousness, God's Rest, Hardships, Cares, God's Shelter, Horrible Times, Pain, Evil, Suffering, Trusting God, God's Peace, Rejoice In The Lord  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Before It's Too Late—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 6, 2002

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE--COMMUNION MEDITATION USA Today had an article on the front page about those who escaped the World Trade Center on September 11. After interviewing over 300 survivors and family members of victims, USA Today concluded that in the South tower those who didn’t delay but ran ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:2, Acts 2:37-40

Tags: Communion, Cup, Becoming A Christian, Bread, Blood Of Christ, Adjustment, Repentance, Lord's Supper, Sacrifice, Wine  (view more)  (view less)

Thine Is The Glory!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

If you seek your own glory you will lose that, and His. But, if you seek His, you will get yours directly from Him. We are all tempted, like the youth Narcissus in the Greek fable, to bend over the brook and fall in love with ourselves, and we get changed into flowers, and fade in an hour. But he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Ministry, Glory, Worship, Praise, Power, Kingdom, Lord's Prayer, Glory Of God, Judgment Seat Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[123]. A Message From A Poem – He Will Receive Us To Himself

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 8, 2025

[123]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HE WILL RECEIVE US TO HIMSELF Time for confession. It is no secret that the theme that occurs in a few of my poems (sometimes only a brief mention) is that of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in Person for all His disciples. That coming is soon and is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Tags: Jesus Receives Us, Received To Him, Caught Up, The Coming Of The Lord, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tony Evans On Getting Un-Stuck  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 28, 2008

TONY EVANS ON GETTING UN-STUCK Tony Evans, a popular black preacher from down in Texas, spoke of being on an elevator in a high-rise building. He said he’d never been particularly comfortable on such elevators. There was something about riding up and down in a little box several hundred feet off ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-21, Matthew 11:28-30, Acts 9:1-16, Proverbs 3:5, Acts 20:17-24, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Daniel 5:1-25, Matthew 1:21-25, Genesis 37:1-14, Hebrews 12:1-2, 2 Samuel 21:1-20, 2 Samuel 21:1-10, Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 Corinthians 15:57-58, Psalm 116:1-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Peace, Blood, Endurance, Tithes, Disciplines, Self-Control, Blood Of Jesus, Strain, Prayer Supplication, Trust In The Lord  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Edison Couldn't Make Life

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 15, 2012

EDISON COULDN'T MAKE LIFE Are you extremely proud of your lifetime accomplishments? It was on November 21 of 1877 that Thomas Edison announced to the world that he had invented the phonograph. Edison's accomplishments are often forgotten. In his Menlo Park, New Jersey fix-it shop he designed the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 9:23-24

Tags: Pride

Denomination: Baptist

[218]. A Message From A Poem - Poem Of Contrasts

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 3, 2025

[218]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - POEM OF CONTRASTS This poem came to me when I was thinking about the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God” This is the One, strong, royal, who is the Overcomer. {Revelation 5:5 One of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping. Behold, THE LION THAT IS FROM ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:5, John 1:29, 2 Corinthians 12:10

Tags: Victim, Man Of Sorrows, Subject, Contrasts, Christian Poems, Poem Of Contrasts, Lamb, Advocate, Lion, King, Judge, Victor, Lord, Servant, Shepherd  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[135]. A Message From A Poem – I Will Still Praise God My Saviour

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 17, 2025

[135]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – I WILL STILL PRAISE GOD MY SAVIOUR Some people find it hard to be joyous a lot of the time and get despondent over various setbacks and trying circumstances in life. In fact I do not know a Christian who at some time has not been through this. Honesty will admit ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13, Habakkuk 3:17-19

Tags: Praise, Setbacks, Christian Poems, Crops Fail, I Will Praise God, Exalt The Lord, No Fruit, Vine, Faithfulness, Fail, Fig Tree, Olive, Despondent  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unbroken Preachers

Contributed by Samuel M on Sep 8, 2025

These days, pulpits are filled with lot of called unbroken preachers who lack the wilderness experience. These unbroken preachers are making a lot of noise. There's a lot of boasting, hype, and selfish ambition. Their preaching lacks the voice of the Lord. Preachers with wilderness experience ...read more

Tags: Faith, Hope

Things That Will ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Things That Will NOT Save Your Soul 1. Church Membership 2. Baptism 3. The Lord’s Supper / Communion 4. Confirmation 5. Giving money to the poor 6. Giving money to the church 7. Saying prayers 8. Keeping the Ten Commandments 9. Obeying the “Golden Rule” 10. Doing “the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Things That Will ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Things That Will NOT Save Your Soul 1. Church Membership 2. Baptism 3. The Lord’s Supper / Communion 4. Confirmation 5. Giving money to the poor 6. Giving money to the church 7. Saying prayers 8. Keeping the Ten Commandments 9. Obeying the “Golden Rule” 10. Doing “the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[163]. A Message From A Poem – Joy For Sorrow - Care In Hurt

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 14, 2025

[163]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JOY FOR SORROW - CARE IN HURT The title of this poem has two contrasts – sorrow turning to joy, and hurt adopting care. This poem was written 27 years ago and since that time much has changed in the world for the followers of the Lord. Persecution has increased ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5-6, 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

Tags: Hurting One, South Africa, The Holy Spirit, Martyred, Suffering Christians, World Press, Comforr, Joy, Africa, Sorrow, Iran, Sudan, Nigeria, Lord, Persecution, Evil, Comfort  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Man In My Hometown Worked In The Coal Mine, ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Oct 28, 2008

A man in my hometown worked in the coal mine, and boasted the top rock couldn't fall fast enough to catch him. He boasted when the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there (pointing down). The rock did fall, and ...read more

Tags: God's Judgment

Denomination: Wesleyan